Boks urged to smarten up their act

The Springboks are being urged to smarten up their act against England on Saturday and avoid a repeat of last year's grudge match at Twickenham when it took 52 stitches to stop the bleeding.

The bad blood which had been festering between two since the drawn series in South Africa the previous summer resulted in severe cuts to players on both sides. England won the match 25-17 and the stitch count 31-21. Springbok coach Harry Viljoen said: 'The English attitude last year was that if they could match us physically, they could beat us. That's why it became a very physical game.

'This time we want to play it hard but be much smarter in the way we go about it. Aggression will always be a part of our game but we are now trying to take it far beyond that.' Scotland picked Brendan Laney in such a rush yesterday that the New Zealander will play for their A team against the All Blacks in Perth tonight before he has had time to play for his new club, Edinburgh.

The 27-year-old from Otago who qualifies via the grandmother route will then be in line to win his cap against the All Blacks at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Mat Rogers, Australia's recent capture from rugby league, is also due to appear against his own country, for the Barbarians against the Wallabies at the Millennium Stadium a week tomorrow.